He said: “The village of Ferrybridge has been associated with power stations as long as I can remember, even before Ferrybridge C was built in the 1960s.

“We hear all the time that the economy has turned but it certainly doesn’t feel like it in Knottingley and Ferrybridge at the moment.

“We must do all that we can and redouble our efforts to bring new industries and jobs to Ferrybridge and Knottingley.”

Yvette Cooper, MP for Pontefract and Castleford, said: “T his is awful news not just for the 170 people who are employed directly but also for the hundreds of contractors who are set to lose their jobs as well.

“This is also devastating for Ferrybridge and the area and comes on the back of job losses at Kellingley Colliery.”